Recording medium for storing information for still picture, recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group. The general information for each still picture group includes the start position of a first still picture in each still picture group (the start position of each still picture group). The information for still pictures in each still picture group includes the sizes of video data and audio data for each still picture. Therefore, effective management of information is allowed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/598,902, filed Jun. 22, 2000, which is a divisional of applicationSer. No. 09/339,192, filed Jun. 24, 1999, which claims the benefit ofKorean Application Nos. 98-23993, filed Jun. 24, 1998 and 98-41758,filed Oct. 2, 1998, in the Korean Patent Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to recording and/or reproducingaudio and/or video data using a rewriteable recording medium, and moreparticularly, to a recording medium for storing still pictures and audiodata added thereto for effective processing, and a recording and/orreproducing method and apparatus therefor.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005]FIG. 1 shows a connection structure for various kinds ofinformation in a moving picture and moving picture data, inrecording/reproducing audio and/or video data on a recordable and/orrewriteable recording medium, specifically, a digital versatile disk(DVD), and more precisely, it illustrates the relationship betweenprogram chain (PGC) information 11 for treating data logically, movingpicture information 12 consisting of video object (VOB) information, anda moving picture data file 13 in which actually compressed audio/video(A/V) data are recorded in VOB units.

[0006] First, terms used throughout the specification will now bedescribed. Supposing a movie was recorded in first and second parts, theoverall movie is a program chain (PGC) and the first and second partsare programs. Also, each program can be defined by further dividing thesame into several cells called sub-units. The information in each cellcan wholly or partially define a video object (VOB). In such an event,each cell is used as a basic accessing unit during reproduction, and theprogram and PGC are only the information for connectivity between aplurality of cells.

[0007] Also, since data is actually sub-divided into video object units(VOBUs) and recorded in a moving picture data file, the VOB informationconsists of various kinds of information relating to the VOBU data, thatis, VOBU #1, VOBU #2, . . . and the VOB data in the moving picture datafile 13 is accessed by the VOB information. Here, the VOB data is usedas a random access unit of a disk recording/reproducing apparatus. TheVOBU is based on a single GOP (Group of Pictures) in the case of an MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group) video, and audio data corresponding tovideo data is collected, that is, A/V data is multiplexed into sectors,to constitute a VOBU.

[0008] The data format shown in FIG. 1 is concerned with the movingpicture, in which the unit of actual data, the VOB, comprises movingpicture data for a fixed period of time. Synchronization or encoding ofA/V signals is performed in units of VOBs. However, in the case of astill picture, each VOB constitutes a still picture. When a VOB isdesignated in a cell structure, a cell is necessary for each stillpicture. Thus, as more still pictures are recorded, more information isadded.

[0009] Generally, data errors may be generated if data is recorded on arecordable disk a predetermined number of times. Thus, there is a limitin the number of times of rewriting data on a disk. All information isstored in the memory of a controller for controlling the system for thepurpose of limiting the number of recording times and rapidly accessingdata. However, as described above, in the case of a still picture, ifthe amount of information is increased, much time is required forreading the information. Also, there is a limit to the amount ofinformation that can be stored in a memory with a limited size.Accordingly, it is not possible to record large-capacity still pictures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To solve the above problems, it is a first object of the presentinvention to provide a recording medium for effectively storing stillpicture group information for separating large-capacity still picturesinto a plurality of groups in order to manage the still pictures at agroup level.

[0011] It is a second object of the present invention to provide arecording medium for generating still picture group informationcontaining video information for a still picture or video informationfor a still picture having audio data added thereto, and audio data, inthe recording order of recorded bitstreams and storing the same.

[0012] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a methodfor recording still picture group information for separatinglarge-capacity still pictures into a plurality of groups in order tomanage the still pictures at a group level, and cell information relatedto reproduction, and for reproducing a still picture according to therecorded information.

[0013] It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide amethod for recording still picture group information containing videoinformation for a still picture or video information for a still picturehaving audio data added thereto, and cell information related toreproduction, and for reproducing the still picture or the still picturehaving audio data added thereto according to the recorded information.

[0014] It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for recording still picture group information for separatinglarge-capacity still pictures and audio data added thereto into aplurality of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a grouplevel, and reproducing the still picture or both the still picture andthe audio data added thereto according to the recorded information.

[0015] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

[0016] To achieve these objects, there is provided a recording mediumincluding a first region having data for a plurality of still pictures,and a second region having still picture group information forseparating the still picture data in the first region into within apredetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the stillpictures at a group level.

[0017] According to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor recording and/or reproducing audio and/or video data on a writeableand/or rewriteable recording medium including the steps of (a) recordinga plurality of input still pictures, and (b) separating the plurality ofstill pictures into within a predetermined maximum number of groups, andrecording still picture group information and playback informationrelated to reproduction thereof.

[0018] Also, the method according to the present invention may furtherinclude the steps of (c) reading still picture group information to bereproduced in accordance with the playback information, and (d)calculating the position of a desired still picture in accordance withthe read still picture group information and reproducing the stillpicture data located at the calculated position.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided areproduction method of a recording medium comprising a first regionhaving data for a plurality of still pictures, a second region havingstill picture group information for separating the still picture data inthe first region into within a predetermined maximum number of groups inorder to manage the still pictures at a group level, the reproductionmethod comprising the step of reproducing the still picture data in thefirst region, based on the still picture group information in the secondregion.

[0020] The apparatus according to the present invention includes arecording processor to signal-process a plurality of still pictures tobe recorded in a first region on the recording medium, and a controllerto generate still picture group information for separating the stillpictures in the first region into within a predetermined maximum numberof groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level andplayback information related to a reproduction order of the stillpictures to be played back, and to control the generated information tobe recorded in a second region of the recording medium.

[0021] Also, the apparatus may further include a playback processor forreproducing still picture data in the first region based on the stillpicture group information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodimentthereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a connection structure of various kinds ofinformation and data in a moving picture;

[0024]FIG. 2 shows an example of an overall information structureaccording to the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a relationship between various kinds of informationand still picture data in a still picture according to the presentinvention;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 5 shows the relationship between still picture data and stillpicture group information according to the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 6 shows the relationship between cell information and stillpicture group information;

[0029]FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of still picture groupinformation according to the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofthe still picture group general information shown in FIG. 7;

[0031]FIG. 9 illustrates the structure of a still picture map tableshown in FIG. 7;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofa video map in the map table shown in FIG. 9;

[0033]FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofan audio map connected to the video map shown in FIG. 10;

[0034]FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofcell information for the still picture shown in FIG. 6;

[0035]FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a flow chart showing a method forrecording a still picture according to an embodiment of a presentinvention; and

[0036]FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a method for reproducing a stillpicture according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of recording media forstoring the information for a still picture, and recording and/orreproducing method and apparatus therefor, will be described.

[0038] Reference will now made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tothe like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below inorder to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows an example of an overall information structureaccording to the present invention, in which information including PGCinformation, moving picture information and still picture informationcan be recorded in an information file or an information area.

[0040] Here, PGC general information contains information such as thenumber of programs in a PGC. Program general information containsinformation such as the number of cells in a program. The cellinformation designates a VOB in the case of a moving picture, as shownin FIG. 1, and designates a still picture VOB group (to be abbreviatedas “still picture group” for brevity) instead of a VOB, in the case of astill picture, as shown in FIG. 3. Since the moving picture informationhas already been described with reference to FIG. 1, a descriptionthereof will be omitted herein and still picture information accordingto the present invention will now be described. Still picture generalinformation contains information relating to the number of kinds ofstill picture group information, and additional audio generalinformation for the still picture contains information relating to thenumber of kinds of additional audio group information.

[0041]FIG. 3 shows the connection structure of various kinds ofinformation and still picture data in a still picture. In other words,in a still picture recorded in units of VOBs in a data file, a pluralityof VOBs for still pictures are managed by a still picture group, andcell information contained in the PGC information 21 designates stillpicture group information (GVOB), rather than a single item of VOBinformation. Also, audio data may be recorded in addition to the stillpicture. The audio data is recorded consecutively after the stillpicture is recorded, thereby reducing the search time of a reproducinghead during reproduction. The audio data recorded together with thestill picture is called original audio data, which is contained in thestill picture group. In the present invention, unless specificallydefined, a still picture represents both one having only a video partand one having the original audio part and the video part.

[0042] By managing the still picture by grouping the same in such amanner, the amount of cell information and still picture information canbe reduced. For example, video coding attributes or audio codingattributes in a still picture group are assimilated, thus forming stillpicture group general information, and stored as common information. Forthe respective still pictures, the positions thereof in the stillpicture data file must be indicated. In the case when the still picturesare not separated into a plurality of groups, the start positions of therespective still pictures must be indicated. However, in the case whenthe still pictures are grouped, the start position at which thepertinent still picture group starts to be recorded in a file is storedin the still picture group general information and then only the sizesof the respective still pictures are recorded as the information for therespective still pictures. Since the amount of information indicative ofthe size of still picture data, i.e., the number of bytes, is generallyless than that indicative of the position in a file, the overall amountof information can be reduced.

[0043] In order to locate a recording position of a specific stillpicture in the still picture group, the start position of the stillpicture group data contained in the still picture group generalinformation is added to the size of the data preceding the still pictureto be located. Also, in order to read audio data added to a stillpicture, the located position of the still picture is added to the sizeof a video part of the still picture.

[0044] In the case of a still picture group, video parts and audio partsare consecutively recorded in a file or space. Thus, the videoinformation and the audio information each containing the size thereofare also recorded in a bitstream order in which the video data and theaudio data are actually recorded. Thus, the respective regions shown inFIG. 3 can exist in the form of a still picture file 23 to which audiodata may be added, and an information file containing cell informationcontained in the PGC information 21 and still picture information 22.The still picture file 23 can be designated by a first region, and theinformation file containing the PGC information 21 and the still pictureinformation 22 can be designated by a second region which is a logicregion.

[0045]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus forimplementing the present invention. The function of an apparatus forrecording/reproducing AV (audio/video) data using a recordable andrewriteable disk is largely divided into recording and reproduction.

[0046] During recording, an AV codec 110 compression-codes an externallyapplied AV signal by a predetermined compression scheme and suppliessize information for compressed data. A digital signal processor (DSP)120 receives AV data supplied from the AV codec 110, adds additionaldata for ECC (error correction code) processing thereto and performsmodulation using a predetermined modulation scheme. A radio frequencyamplifier (RF AMP) 130 converts electrical data supplied from the DSP120 into an RF signal. A pickup 140 drives a disk and records the RFsignal supplied from the RF AMP 130, incorporating an actuator forfocusing and tracking. A servo 150 receives information necessary forservo control from a system controller 160 and stably performs a servofunction. The system controller 160 controls the overall system throughinterfacing with a user to thus control the still picture to be recordedon the disk and record separate information for the recorded stillpicture. Still picture data are managed at a group level by constructingthe still picture group information of the information for therespective still pictures, including size information of still picturedata, size information of audio data, playback time information of audiodata and the like, and the position information of the respective stillpictures, in the recording order of recorded still pictures and audiodata. Cell information concerning the reproduction order is recorded aswell as the above-described information. The cell information containsinformation indicative of the recorded still picture group so that therecorded still picture and audio data can be reproduced.

[0047] During playback, the pickup 140 picks up the optical signal fromthe disk having data stored therein and the data is extracted from theoptical signal. The RF AMP 130 converts the optical signal (that is, RFsignal) into electrical data, and extracts a servo signal for performinga servo function, and modulated data. The DSP 120 demodulates modulateddata supplied from the RF AMP 130 corresponding to the modulation schemeused during modulation, performs an ECC process to correct errors andeliminates added data. The servo unit 150 receives information necessaryfor servo control from the RF AMP 130 and the system controller 160 andstably performs a servo function. The AV codec 110 decodes thecompressed AV data supplied from the DSP 120 to output an A/V signal.The system controller 160 controls the overall system for reproducingthe user's desired data (still picture only, still picture+audio data orstill picture+additional audio data) using the cell information andstill picture group information stored on the disk while performing userinterfacing such as processing of the user's key inputs.

[0048] In other words, in order to reproduce a specific still pictureand audio data, the still picture group information having the stillpicture to be reproduced is obtained from the cell information,information such as the size of the still picture data and theinformation for the data size and playback time of audio data, if any,is obtained from the still picture group information, therebyreproducing only desired data. Here, the A/V codec 110, the DSP 120, theRF AMP 130 and the pickup 140 operating during recording can be referredto as a recording processor. Also, the pickup 140, the RF AMP 130, theDSP 120 and the A/V codec 110 operating during playback can be referredto a reproduction processor.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows the relationship between still picture data and stillpicture group information, in which the information for a plurality ofstill pictures (e.g., 64 maximally) having the same attributes isrecorded in the respective still picture group (GVOB) information 201.The number of the still pictures forming each still picture group isdetermined such that it is within the limit of the maximum number ofstill pictures. Each still picture group information 202 includes stillpicture group general information and information for the respectivestill pictures and is information for still picture data 203 includingvideo parts and video or audio parts in a sequence of bitstreamsrecorded. The still picture group general information has the startaddress of the corresponding still picture group.

[0050] Also, as information for the respective still pictures, stillpicture information having audio data exists in the form of mapinformation including video part information for video parts and audiopart information for audio parts. Here, a video map and an audio map fora still picture have the same identification information. If the stillpicture information includes only video parts, it exists in the form ofmaps having only the video part information. Here, still picture data isrecorded in VOBs.

[0051]FIG. 6 shows the relationship between cell information (which canalso be referred to as playback information) and still picture groupinformation, in which a cell is a logical unit in relation to indicationof a reproduction order. The cell information includes still picturegroup identification information (GVOB_ID), still picture reproductionstart identification information (START VOB_ID) of the correspondingstill picture group and still picture reproduction ending identificationinformation (END VOB_ID). The cell information may correspond to all thestill picture groups or may correspond to only some of the still picturegroups which are intended to be reproduced.

[0052]FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of still picture groupinformation according to the present invention, which includes stillpicture group general information and a still picture map table, and mayfurther include attribute information for a still picture such aspicture sizes or video encoding modes.

[0053]FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofstill picture group general information shown in FIG. 7, which includesGVOB_ID representing information for identifying a still picture groupin a still picture file, GVOB_S_ADR representing the start address offirst still picture data in the corresponding still picture group in thestill picture file, GVOB_Ns representing the number of still pictures inthe still picture group, and so on. Here, the identification informationGVOB_ID can be expressly recorded as a unique one for each still picturegroup in a still picture file or can be suggestively indicated in theorder of still picture groups, that is, #1, #2, . . .

[0054]FIG. 9 illustrates the structure of the still picture map tableshown in FIG. 7. There are two types of maps; one is video maps VMAPsfor video parts and the other is audio maps AMAPs for audio parts addedto corresponding still pictures. The order of maps is the same as thatof data of recorded bitstreams in a still picture file as shown in FIG.5. Thus, in the case when a still picture has only a video part, thereis only a video map. In the case when a still picture has audio data inaddition to the video part, both a video map and an audio map arerecorded and are practically considered as one map using the sameidentification information.

[0055]FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofa video map in the map table shown in FIG. 9, containing MAP_TYindicating the type of a corresponding map and represented by a binary“0” in the case of a video map for a video part, VOB_ID indicatingidentification information for the video part and ranging from 1 to 64in preferred embodiments. Also, VOB_ID can be expressly indicated orsuggestively indicated in the recording order, that is, #1, #2, #3, . ..

[0056] Also, the video map contains V_PART_SZ indicating the size of thevideo part. Here, VOB_ID and V_PART_SZ can be referred to as stillpicture position information.

[0057]FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofan audio map, containing MAP_TY indicating the type of a correspondingmap and represented by a binary value “1” in the case of an audio mapfor an audio part, A_PBTM indicating the playback time of the audio partand A_PART_SZ indicating the size of the audio part.

[0058]FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents ofcell information for a still picture, shown in FIG. 7, containingS_GVOB_ID indicating identification information for a still picturegroup, S_VOB_ID indicating identification information for a stillpicture in which reproduction starts, and E_VOB_ID indicatingidentification information for a still picture in which reproductionends.

[0059]FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a flow chart showing a method forrecording a still picture according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, that is, a method for recording a still picture and audiodata. First, it is determined whether a still picture or both a stillpicture and audio data is recorded (step S101). Still picture groupinformation is generated, identification for a still picture group isallocated, the number of still pictures in the still picture group isset to “0” and the start address of the still picture group in a stillpicture file is recorded (step S102). It is then determined whether arecording start signal of a still picture is input by a user or not(step S103). If the recording start signal is input, the still pictureis recorded in the still picture file, identification information forthe still picture is allocated to the still picture group information,the number of still pictures in the still picture group is increased byone and the size information of the still pictures is recorded in thevideo map (step S104).

[0060] It is determined whether or not a mode set by a user is forrecording both a still picture and audio data (step S105). If yes, theaudio data for the still picture is recorded following after thecorresponding still picture on the still picture file and the audio sizeinformation is recorded in an audio map in the still picture groupinformation (step S106).

[0061] It is determined whether the number of still pictures recordedexceeds a maximum number possible to constitute the information for astill picture group (e.g., 64 maximally) (step S107). If the stillpicture group information is completed, the procedure returns to stepS102 to generate another still picture group information. Otherwise, theprocedure proceeds to step S103 to determine whether a recording startsignal of a still picture is input by a user or not.

[0062] If the mode set by a user is for recording only a still picturein step S105, step S106 is skipped and the procedure proceeds to step107 to record the next still picture. If the recording start signal of astill picture is not input by a user in step S103, it is determinedwhether or not to terminate recording (step S108). If it is determinedto terminate recording, cell information is recorded and the procedureends (step S109). Here, the cell information is created for every stillpicture group so as for all still pictures to be reproduced.

[0063]FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a method for reproducing a stillpicture according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, amethod for reproducing a still picture and audio data added thereto.Referring to FIG. 14, PGC information and cell information are read(step S201). Identification information for a still picture group to bereproduced, playback start identification information and playbackending identification information are read from the cell information toread the still picture group information pointed to by the cell (stepS202). Video map information for the video part corresponding to theplayback start identification information in the read still picturegroup information is obtained to read the size of a video part, or bothvideo map information and audio map information are obtained in the caseof a still picture having audio data to read the size of a video partand the size of an audio part (step S203).

[0064] The position of a desired still picture is calculated by the readvideo part information and video data located at the calculated positionis read and decoded to reproduce the still picture (step S204). Here,the position of a desired still picture is obtained by summing the startposition of a still picture group and the size of data preceding thedesired still picture. While the still picture is reproduced, it isdetermined whether audio data is added to the still picture (step S205).If yes, the audio data is read and decoded to reproduce the audio data(step S206). Here, the reading position of the audio data is obtained bysumming the calculated position of the still picture and the size of avideo part of the still picture. It is checked whether all stillpictures belonging to a cell are reproduced or not using the cellinformation and then it is determined whether or not there is a stillpicture to be reproduced next (step S207). If yes, the information forthe video part of the still picture to be reproduced next is read (stepS203). Otherwise, the procedure is terminated. In the case when thereare a plurality of series of cell information, this routine is repeated.

[0065] Here, the step of determining whether audio data is added to astill picture (step S205) may be performed directly after the step ofreading the still picture group information (step S202). This is becauseit is possible to determine that audio data is added to a still picturein the case when an audio map for an audio part is added subsequently toa video map for a video part, in accordance with the still picture groupinformation.

[0066] Before reproduction, a reproduction mode may be set through auser interface to determine whether only a still picture is to bereproduced, or both a still picture and audio data are to be reproduced.

[0067] As described above, according to the present invention, aplurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto can be recordedand/or reproduced using minimum information by storing still picturegroup information for separating the plurality of still pictures andaudio data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in orderto manage the still pictures at a group level.

[0068] Also, according to the present invention, since the still picturegroup information includes still picture group general information asthe common information in the recording order of bitstreams of stillpictures and audio data added thereto, and video part information andaudio part information are constructed for each still picture in thestill picture group, effective management of information can beperformed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recording and/or reproducing audioand/or video data on a writeable and/or rewriteable recording medium,comprising: recording at least one still picture in a first region ofthe recording medium and at least one still picture group information ina second region of the recording medium; and arranging still picturedata in the first region into at least one still picture group so as tomanage still pictures at a group level, wherein the second region isseparate from the first region, said at least one still picture groupinformation includes still picture group general information containingstart position information of still pictures in the one still picturegroup and information relating to a number of video parts in the stillpicture group, and information for each still picture in the stillpicture group, with the information for the still pictures containingposition information thereof, and the position information for the stillpictures includes size information of video parts of the still pictures.2. The method of recording and/or reproducing audio and/or video data ofclaim 1, wherein the maximum number of still pictures in a group is 64.3. A method of recording and/or reproducing audio and/or video data on awriteable and/or rewriteable recording medium, comprising: recording atleast one still picture including at least one audio data related to theone still picture in a first region of the recording medium and at leastone still picture group information in a second region of the recordingmedium; and arranging still picture data In the first region into atleast one group so as to manage still pictures at a group level, whereinthe second region is separate from the first region, and whereinposition information for the still pictures is recorded on the recordingmedium and includes size information of still pictures and sizeinformation of audio part of still pictures.
 4. The method of recordingand/or reproducing audio and/or video data of claim 3, wherein saidposition information further comprises playback time information of theaudio data.